Dealer's theory on initially clearing land

[charlesw]

So... I'm checking out brush hogs to get with my tractor. My dealer tells me several things:
- if it takes out big brush (3" diameter), it does a bad job mowing
- if it takes out big brush, it costs a fortune

What I could always do, is to buy one of the cheaper brush hogs (you know the ones... 6' for $700) and just beat it all to heck in doing the initial clearing and then I could get a nice cutter (that won't take out the big stuff) for maintaining afterwards.

I suppose it sounds like a good idea, but, well, that's $700 lost - almost thrown away! Yet... It's not like I can afford the $5000 cutter - and if it looks bad in the grass anyway, well, that's not great...

Thoughts?
thx

 

[RobJ]

I'm not sure I'd call a 3" tree brush. Either the BH is going to break first...or your tractor. Plus a 3" stump sticking 3-4" out of the ground is going to be there a while, not to mention tough to ride over.

Around here if you let it go to long the guys will say you've "lost" the pasture. Time for a dozer.

Good Luck

 

[charlesw]

Ah, well... Good points. It's just that I don't relish the thought of the best alternative (other than dozer) - that is to say going in and taking them out with a chainsaw or bushwacker... I've previously done that on 4 acres and here I've got at least 15 to do. Bleh! Way way way too much work involved!

 

[Dk45_Jeff]

I can't comment on light duty cutters, but I know Wood's medium duty BB720 has no problem cutting the occasional 3" oak/maple. It has chewed a few 5" pines with out complaint too. However, I would want a heavy duty model, like the BB7200 if the majority of the stuff will be larger then 2".

What tractor you will use? Six foot cutters rated for this stuff start with a minimum PTO HP of around 40 and weigh over 1200 pounds. So you’ll need at least a large CUT, if not a small utility tractor.

As RobJ pointed out the stumps may need some attention. A box blade with the rippers down but the box rotated up will up most of the stumps in a couple of passes. Or a FEL with toothbar or root rake will work quicker if there are only a few to eliminate.

I don't know what you expecting terms of mowing quality. The BB720 will cut grass, but it isn't a finishing mower.

 

[charlesw]

What tractor you will use? Six foot cutters rated for this stuff start with a minimum PTO HP of around 40 and weigh over 1200 pounds. So you’ll need at least a large CUT, if not a small utility tractor.

Hoping for a ~50HP. Saw a very nice NH 3930 last night... but still looking! Getting over 1200 pounds in the tractor will not be an issue.

 

[frank_f15]

Ah, well... Good points. It's just that I don't relish the thought of the best alternative (other than dozer) - that is to say going in and taking them out with a chainsaw or bushwacker... I've previously done that on 4 acres and here I've got at least 15 to do. Bleh! Way way way too much work involved!

Think i will agree with robj 15 acres is a lot of work with 3 " stuff in there then you still have to deal with the stumps. HIRE a Dozer

 

[schmism]

Hoping for a ~50HP. Saw a very nice NH 3930 last night... but still looking! Getting over 1200 pounds in the tractor will not be an issue.

<snicker> i think he ment the brush hog would weigh in at a hefty 1200 lbs. Ie super uber heavy duty

 

[charlesw]

Well, thanks. Sigh. The shame of telling my wife! "Well, then, what did you buy the tractor for?" It seems more likely that I'll do it by hand (chainsaw and bushwacker)...

 

[charlesw]

Oh. Um. Tee hee. La la la. No, I got that... Um...

 

[Dk45_Jeff]

<snicker> i think he ment the brush hog would weigh in at a hefty 1200 lbs. Ie super uber heavy duty

Sorry that wasn't very clear. I did mean the cutter weights would start around 1200 pounds. I think the tractor's field weight should be at least 3 tons for cutters of this size, but that's only my opinion.

Dozer can do the job quicker, but operators charge about $2k per acre around here. They also leave the brush in huge piles for you clean up. With a cutter the brush practically disappears, and the ground is basically undisturbed for erosion control.